Portable vacuum cleaner



p i 1939; J. F. BILLMYRE PORTABLE "VACUUM CLEANER Filed April 6, 193"? 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [N VENTOR BIILLMYKE A TTORNEY April 1939. J. F. BILLMYRE PORTABLE VACUUM CLEANER Filed April e, 1937 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTIOR JosePH BILm RE Z FZ O f QNEY Patented Apr. 4,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims. res-e7) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a portable vacuum cleaner.

- The invention has for an object the construc-. tion of a portable vacuum cleaner which is characterized by a vacuum producer mounted in a particular manner upon a resilient member capable of absorbing vibrations normally produced during the operation of the vacuum producer. Still further the invention proposes the addi- 10 tion of sound retarding material to the body of the vacuum cleaner to encase' the vacuum producer and confine noises produced during the operation thereof.

A further object of the invention is to so ar- II range the parts of the vacuum producer that the air current thereof is utilized to cool portions thereof likely to become heated, as for example, the prime mover operating the vacuum producer.

As a further object the invention contemplates 90 an arrangement which will permit a portion of the body of the cleaner to be removed to uncover'and expose the vacuum producer to make it accessible for repair and other purposes.

As a further object of this invention it is proposed to arrange an inverted self-cleaning filter bag within the body of the cleaner and to support this filter bag immediately below the vacuum producer and upon the resilient member so that vibrations which are absorbed by the resilient member are partially or fully transmitted to vibrate the filter bag and so assist in cleaning the bag.

Furthermore, it is contemplated to arrange the filter bag with several folds which are supported in open condition by resilient elements capable of vibrating and arranged to receive some of the vibrations naturally produced by the vacuum producer and so further assist in cleaning the filter bag.

40 Another one 01' the objects of this invention resides in arranging a can beneath the filter bag, and a mechanism for self-aligning the can in proper position when it is engaged inplace.

Still further the invention proposes the arrangement otan inverted frusto-conical U-shaped packing element supported on the body of the vacuum cleaner and cooperative with the top edge of the can when the can is engaged in position for sealing the can against dust discharged.

Still further the invention proposes a novel mechanism for the quick and convenient engagement of the can in position and its removal when desired.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a device as described whichis simple and durable and whichmay be manufactured and sold at a rezsanable cost erence wiii be had to the following descriptien 5 v and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a rueterial part of this disclosure: is

Fig. 1 is a plan view of-a portable vacuum cleaner constructed according to this *mveution.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view oi the cleaner. Fig. 3 is a transverse verflcal s wiional view thereof, 15

The portable vacuum cleaner includes a cylindrical body 10 having a bottom can receiving section Ila, an intermediate separator section llb, and a top vacuum producing section lie.

Ameans for remoc ably supporting a can I! is 29 arranged within the bottom section, and furthermore is capable of automatically centering the canandsealingthecanaswillbehereinafter more fully described An inverted self-cleaning filter bag I! is mormtai within the intermediate section llb and is positioned above the can H An air inlet l3 for a standard hose or set of hoses and cleaningtoolsistoconnectwith the space over the can I l and beneath the filter .bag. Aresflientannnlarmember llisdisposed3 motor Isa which is supported upon'a fan casing 45 lib; This fan easing houses a two-stage centrifugalfan licwhichisconnectedtoand driven by the electric motor IS. The fan casing [5b is extendedthrough the central opening of the annular resilient member II and is fixedly50 mounted thereon. Hie fancasing lib is made of severalsectionssecuredtogetherasalmitandhas abottom opening I. constituting the inlet. From thisopeningtheairis'drawninbythelowermost fan blade and forced ot' -vards along the 55 passage l9 to an opening 20 which communicates with the passage 2| constituting the second stage chamber of the fan. The air then continues through the opening 22 to a compartment 23 located beneath the top wall'of the fan casing I5b. From this compartment some of the air is forced through the motor l5a and discharges through openings 24 at the top of the motor.

.Other'portions of the air are forced through trolling the motor l5a is mounted through the Wall of the top section I00. A socket 29 for receiving an electric plug is also mounted upon the top section lflc.. The switch and plug are connected in an electric circuit, not shown on the drawings, for controlling the electric motor. The details of this circuit form no part of the inven-' tion and will not be described in this specification since circuits of this type are generally known.

The top section We is mounted on a bottom flange member 30 which extends over the intermediate section Hlb. The upper end of the intermediate body section lllc is formed with a curled edge portion 3| disposed within the flange. member 30. An annular support element 32 is attached to the upper portion of the' intermediate body section .lOb. A plurality of studs 33 are mounted through this support element and extend through the annular resilient member l4 and through the top portion of the flange member 30. lar recess 34 into which the edge of the top body section I00 engages. A clip 35 is mounted on each of the screws 33 and is clamped down by nuts 36 threadedly engaging the screws 33. These clips 35' are adapted to hold the top body section in position. When the nuts 36 are loosened the clips 35 may be turned around oil the bottom edge of the top body section lflc which may then be removed.

A screen 3'! is supported upon the bottom end of the fan casing l5b. This screen is arranged above the central filter portion of the bag l2.

The filter bag i2 is formed from several adjacent wall sections connected together. There is an outer anhular wall section l2a which is secured at its bottom end to the lower edge of an annular wall 38 arranged concentric with the central body section lb and supported upon the top support element 32. This wall 38 is sufiiciently spaced from the inner section of the body section lob to form a passage 39 between these parts.

The upper edge of the filter bag wall l2a connects with the upper edge of another wall I 212. This wall l2b extends downwards and at its lower end connects with the lower end of a cylindrical central portion He. The upperjunction of' the walls I 20. and 1212 are supported by several springs 40. which in turn are supported by an annular support element 4| resting on the support element 32 and fixedly heldin position by the bolts 33. The support element 4| partially supports the resilient annular member 14 which is of a larger diameter than this element so that there is a free central projecting portion |4a of the resilient member [4. This free portion is capable of This top portion is formed with an annu-' vibrating and so absorbing the vibrations produced by the vacuum producer l5.

The lower edges 'of the, walls and I 2b are connected at several points by springs 42. These springs are capable of vibrating and transferring some of the vibrations from certain portions of the filter bag to other portions to assist in cleaning the filter bag. The inlet l3 comprises a standard nozzle or union element upon which a The can I I is supported upon a bracket 46 which is lobated at the center of the can at the bottom. This bracket 46 is pivotally mounted on an arm 41 which is pivotally supported by a. pin 48 intermediate of its ends. This pin 48 is supported on a bracket 49 mounted on the wall of a base element 50 secured upon the lower end of the bottom bhdy section Illa. The arm 41 extends radially of the cylinder body, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and has a projecting end 41a which acts as a treadle upon which one may step.

The arm 41 is slightly loose onthe pintle 48 so that it may pivot laterally a small amount. In one position it is disposed beneath a skirt portion of the base element 50 and in this position it holds the can H raised. The treadle 41a may be pushed slightly laterally against a stop 5| (see Fig. 2) and then it is in line with a cut 53 formed in the skirt portion, of the base element 50. When the treadle is now released it will be moved upwards into the slot clue to the weight of the can I! on the bracket 46 which will be forceddownwards. The top edge of the can in the lowered position will be free from the packing element 45 and then the can may be removed. The bottom body section Illa has an open side through which the can may be removed. The can H is provided with handles 54' for convenience in handling it.

The base element 50 also supports a transverse shaft 55 upon the ends of which there are casters 56. A bracket 5'! is mounted uponthe lower portion of the body section Illa and supports a third caster 58. This third caster is located directly beneath the inlet l3. This third caster is of the swivel type so that it may turn aroiind in all directions. The casters 56 are spaced on the other side of the center of the cylindrical body to that of the location of the caster 58. Upon diametrically opposite sides of the cylindrical body 10 there are handles 60 by which the portable cleaner may be readily carried.

The operation of the device is as followsz A hose and cleaning tools are attached to the inlet I 3. The motor I5 is then turned on. The fans |5c will draw in air from beneath it. This air must come from the inlet B. The air from the inlet will first travel in the chamber 39 and then into the can H, and travel upwards through the filter bag l2 and be drawn into the fan and pass through and around the fan and finally discharge from the opening l6. Dust and other element 45 and so automatically assume an aligned position on the packing element to seal the can from the outer atmosphere.

Another feature of the invention resides in the .fact that the vacuum producer I5 is supported upon the resilient element ll. The advantage of this construction is that the vibrations produced by the vacuum producer IE will not be transmitted to the cylindrical body, but will be confined and absorbed by the resilient annular member id. A further feature residesin the fact that vibrations from the annular member I! are utilized to vibrate the springs l which in turn will vibrate the filter bag and help in automatically cleaning the filter bag. Some of the vibrations in the filter bag will be transmitted by the stretched wall portions He and no to the springs 42 which will set up a vibration and further assist in cleaning the bag. Another feature of the invention resides in the fact that the central cylindrical portion .l2c of the filter bag is loose, and when the vacuum cleaner is not working will fall downwards to the position l2cc indicated by the dot and dash lines, and when the vacuum cleaner is working will be inflated and will be vibrated and so shake the filter bag to cause it to drop accumulations of dust deposited on it.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the sound insulation applied to the disc ii and to the top section We of the cylindrical body which wili confine noise made by the vacuum producer i5 during its operation. A still further feature resides in the arrangement which permits the clips 35 to be disengaged from the lower edge of the top body section We which then may be readily removed to give access to the motor and fan,

While I have illustrated and described my invention with some degree of particularity, 'I

realize that in practice various alterations therein may be made. For example, many of the features may beapplied to a stationary vacuum system and other changes may be made. I therefore reserve the right and privilege of changing the form of the details of construction or otherwise altering the arrangement of the correlated parts without departing from the spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner system, a cylindrical body, an inverted self-cleaning filter bag mounted within said body, an inverted frusto-conical wall supporting a V-shaped packing element and said wall being mounted on said body and around the bottom edge of said filter bag, a can within said body the top edge of which is adapted to engage said packing element when the can is' 0 lifted, and means for lifting said can.

2. In. a vacuum cleanersystem, a cylindrical upon the bottom of said cylindrical body and having a skirt portion adapted to be engaged by the outer end of said arm to hold the arm pivoted so that the can is raised, saidskirt portion being formed with a slot, and said arm being movable to a position to engage in said slot so that the arm may then' pivot and the can be lowered.

3. In a vacuum cleaner system, a cylindrical body, an inverted self-cleaning filter bag mounted within said body, aninverted frusto-conical wall supporting a V-shaped packing element and said .wall being mounted on said body and around the bottom edge of said filter bag, a can within said body the top edge of which is ,adapted to engage said packing element when the can is lifted, and means for lifting said can, comprising a pivoted-arm, a bracket on the inner end of the arm adapted to engage the bottom of the can at its center, and a base element mounted upon thebottom of said cylindrical body and having a skirt portion adapted to be'engaged by the outer end of said arm to hold the arm pivoted so that the can .is raised, said skirt portion being formed with a slot, and said arm being movable to a position to engage in said slot so that the arm may then pivot and the can be lowered, and a stop for limiting motion of said arm to a position in which it is aligned with said slot.

i. In a-vacuum cleaner system, ahollow cylindrical body having a side opening through which a can may be placed therein, a bracket within said .body and below said side opening for supporting said can, a vacuum producing device and filter bag mounted within said body above said opening, an annular member mounted on the internal face of said body above said opening, and means for slightly lifting said bracket for holding a can placed in said body through said opening against said annular member.

5. In a vacuum cleaner system, a hollow cylindrical body having a sideopening through which a can may be placed therein, a vacuum producing device and filter bag mounted within said body above said opening, anzannular member mounted on the internal face of said body above said opening, and means for slightly lifting and holding a can placed in said body through said opening against said annular member for firmly tion, including a pivotally supported lever connected at one end with said bracket, and a member engaging said lever to hold it in a posi- .tion so that said bracket is raised, said latter member being formedwith a cut into which said lever may be shifted so that the lever is free tobracket.

pivot and lower said JOSEPH F. BILIMYRE. j 

